The Daily Mail describes the elections as a day of apathy at the polls and a day of political bloodbaths for the three major parties, a dark day for democracy and a crushing rebuke to Britain's political class.

The paper says a number of advisors to the inquiry have links to an organisation whose aim includes greater press regulation.

The proposal to ban young drivers from carrying anyone other than family members as passengers in an effort to cut the number of road accidents involving teenagers is the Telegraph's main story.

The idea, put forward by the Association of British Insurers, is being considered by the government and receives a mixed response from motoring organisations.

Savage freeze

The Independent focuses on the decision by the European Medicines Agency to approve the first vaccine to protect children against meningitis B, paving the way for it to be licensed in the next few weeks.

The paper says the government is now under intense pressure to provide the funds for the drug to be made swiftly available to babies in the national vaccination programme.